Aye there was plenty of traffic on the old 74 in those days/nights,Millars were kept busy to say the least. Heres a few names I remember when I drove for Baxters Road Services Newcastle. P&S Contracts,Hull & Glasgow,Sam Anderson. J.K.Allan. McKelvie, Alexander Scott.Rapid Road Services,John Hunter Airdrey,Adamsons Carluke, Smiths Of Wishaw.John Barrie, James Hemphill, McNiel Maryhill.Stewart Cameron.Glasgow Hiring. Gavin Wilkie, Smiths of Whiteinch. ■■? Blantyre, Intercity C/Nauld. J&R.Wright, Rutherglen.& a few more I cant remember, it was a convoy of day wagons & night trunkers, // some more Silver Roadways , Danskins of Cupar plus the Howleters etc, good old happy days, Regards Larry.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Aye there was plenty of traffic on the old 74 in those days/nights,Millars were kept busy to say the least. Heres a few names I remember when I drove for Baxters Road Services Newcastle. P&S Contracts,Hull & Glasgow,Sam Anderson. J.K.Allan. McKelvie, Alexander Scott.Rapid Road Services,John Hunter Airdrey,Adamsons Carluke, Smiths Of Wishaw.John Barrie, James Hemphill, McNiel Maryhill.Stewart Cameron.Glasgow Hiring. Gavin Wilkie, Smiths of Whiteinch. ■■? Blantyre, Intercity C/Nauld. J&R.Wright, Rutherglen.& a few more I cant remember, it was a convoy of day wagons & night trunkers, // some more Silver Roadways , Danskins of Cupar plus the Howleters etc, good old happy days, Regards Larry.
hiya,
Time to put the bottle to one side Larry too much consumption of the angels water is causing you to see double.
thanks harry long retired.
What about Dusties Diner on Scotswood Road oppisite Vickers Pressings. canny cup a tea & a bacon sandwich as I recall, long gone now sadly to say, it was a goodin in its day.
Did any of you old timmers ever stay at the Tooley Hotel 147 Tooley Street London S E 1. , Named the 147, I never stayed there, but I new a few drivers that did , but only once they never ever went back, the said it was a doss house, not fit for anything,I remember giving a bloke a lift back up to Newcastle, he was a jobber looked for work wherever he could earn a few bob etc, He was destitute, I felt sorry for the bloke, I was piggy backing a wagon back to N/c. & he slept in the cab of the one on the back,as the driver was in the cab with me.I saw the same bloke some years after & when I mentioned it he did to, he had done well for himself Im glad to say, since that time. Regards Larry
In the 70s we used to park at Wapping on some spare land right on the river, the local pub was the China Ship serving the usual rubbish, Watneys Red Barrel how they had the nerve to call that stuff beer I will never know!! Of course us lucky Geordies were brought up on real beer ( Newcastle Brown, Exhibition, and Fed Special being a few examples). The smell of
the old spice warehouses sticks in my memory even now forty years on. Regards kevmac47.
Thats why all us Southern trampers used to choose the loads for the North -good digs & good beer.
harry:
Thats why all us Southern trampers used to choose the loads for the North -good digs & good beer.
All a matter of opinion I suppose. About the worse digs I ever stayed at were in Gateshead. One of my favourite pints was Fullers “London Pride”. Got my brother to bring over a few cans last time he came to Thailand. Luverly!!! Another one I enjoyed was a pint of bitter brewed by Adnams…East Anglia way?
When I used to run London, most Gordies allways made for Tower Hill,parked in Goodmans Yard, St Katherines Way,or National Car Parks in Royal Mint Street, the last resort, because you had to pay. Most of us had a drink in the Crooked Billet run by a Gordie, also the Still & Star,& the Farmers in Leman Street, I stuck to bottled Export. Happy Days, 50s/60s. Regards Larry.
hiya,
Larry remember the Tooley Street “Hotel” but only from the bad reports I heard from drivers who had stayed there on “one occasion only” proper dump I believe I stayed in private digs in Islington and there was a pub quite near that served a decent drop of Flowers keg which went down well as part of a balanced diet, half a beer in one hand and a drop o’ Bells in’t tother, our depot “Bowkers” in those days was only a short walk from the digs so good digs, good parking and half decent booze what more did a plum tuckered lorry driver need also plenty of cafe’s in the Caledonian Road if you needed to get the “nosebag” on,happy days eh’.
thanks harry long retired.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Did any of you old timmers ever stay at the Tooley Hotel 147 Tooley Street London S E 1. , Named the 147, I never stayed there, but I new a few drivers that did , but only once they never ever went back, the said it was a doss house, not fit for anything,I remember giving a bloke a lift back up to Newcastle, he was a jobber looked for work wherever he could earn a few bob etc, He was destitute, I felt sorry for the bloke, I was piggy backing a wagon back to N/c. & he slept in the cab of the one on the back,as the driver was in the cab with me.I saw the same bloke some years after & when I mentioned it he did to, he had done well for himself Im glad to say, since that time. Regards Larry
I used to park on tooley st but stayed in the st johns tavern.Used to eat in the italians[forgot name]past the tooley hotel down some stairs.Used to drink in the anchor[next to the brewery]the copper,the kings head.happy days.
regards dave.
harry_gill:
hiya,
Larry remember the Tooley Street “Hotel” but only from the bad reports I heard from drivers who had stayed there on “one occasion only” proper dump I believe I stayed in private digs in Islington and there was a pub quite near that served a decent drop of Flowers keg which went down well as part of a balanced diet, half a beer in one hand and a drop o’ Bells in’t tother, our depot “Bowkers” in those days was only a short walk from the digs so good digs, good parking and half decent booze what more did a plum tuckered lorry driver need also plenty of cafe’s in the Caledonian Road if you needed to get the “nosebag” on,happy days eh’.
thanks harry long retired.
Spoken like a true scholar and a gentleman “H” I just bet you loved it “darn the smoke” and no doubt you were not alone! well you and me both,at least, “H”.Cheers Dennis.PS Tooley St. sure was a dump,had to put the legs of the bed into your boots or they’ed be gone in the morning,but I soon wised up and gave the dump a wide berth!!
kevmac47:
In the 70s we used to park at Wapping on some spare land right on the river, the local pub was the China Ship serving the usual rubbish, Watneys Red Barrel how they had the nerve to call that stuff beer I will never know!! Of course us lucky Geordies were brought up on real beer ( Newcastle Brown, Exhibition, and Fed Special being a few examples). The smell of
the old spice warehouses sticks in my memory even now forty years on. Regards kevmac47.
Hikeymac 47
I remember attending a meeting once where the guest speaker was from one of yhe north east Breweries from up here. He said that Watney’s was so weak it could have been legally sold in USA during prohibition
Regards
Carl
Carl Williams:
kevmac47:
In the 70s we used to park at Wapping on some spare land right on the river, the local pub was the China Ship serving the usual rubbish, Watneys Red Barrel how they had the nerve to call that stuff beer I will never know!! Of course us lucky Geordies were brought up on real beer ( Newcastle Brown, Exhibition, and Fed Special being a few examples). The smell of
the old spice warehouses sticks in my memory even now forty years on. Regards kevmac47.Hikeymac 47
I remember attending a meeting once where the guest speaker was from one of yhe north east Breweries from up here. He said that Watney’s was so weak it could have been legally sold in USA during prohibitionRegards
Carl
You don,t think that the speaker was ever so slightly prejudiced? Regards Charlie 
I stopped at Tooley Street in 67 and I did not know it but I was the main course it was the only time I have slept with bed bugs and they do bite and once bitten twice shy 
I am sure it was my first trip to London but I will always remember that digs.
cheers Johnnie 
Carl Williams:
kevmac47:
In the 70s we used to park at Wapping on some spare land right on the river, the local pub was the China Ship serving the usual rubbish, Watneys Red Barrel how they had the nerve to call that stuff beer I will never know!! Of course us lucky Geordies were brought up on real beer ( Newcastle Brown, Exhibition, and Fed Special being a few examples). The smell of
the old spice warehouses sticks in my memory even now forty years on. Regards kevmac47.Hikeymac 47
I remember attending a meeting once where the guest speaker was from one of yhe north east Breweries from up here. He said that Watney’s was so weak it could have been legally sold in USA during prohibitionRegards
Carl
Courage bitter,aye lad you need bloody courage to sup it!!! I’ll be glad when I’ve had enough,my back teeth are floating and I’m still not ■■■■■■■■
Another long gone cafe, remember the old bus on Mellkridge, on the A69,in the 50s, Owned by a mis…b…r, he moved into a house & called it the Willow Cafe, it was behind where the little Chef is now. never very popular, the tea was , well he called it tea, the cups were large thimbles, the food was just ok, It improved greatly when someone else took it over., & so did the tea.
Lawrence Dunbar:
Another long gone cafe, remember the old bus on Mellkridge, on the A69,in the 50s, Owned by a mis…b…r, he moved into a house & called it the Willow Cafe, it was behind where the little Chef is now. never very popular, the tea was , well he called it tea, the cups were large thimbles, the food was just ok, It improved greatly when someone else took it over., & so did the tea.
I dont remember the bus but i did go in the Willow Cafe now and again,he was a bit of a b…r as you say, vic.
v7victor:
Lawrence Dunbar:
Another long gone cafe, remember the old bus on Mellkridge, on the A69,in the 50s, Owned by a mis…b…r, he moved into a house & called it the Willow Cafe, it was behind where the little Chef is now. never very popular, the tea was , well he called it tea, the cups were large thimbles, the food was just ok, It improved greatly when someone else took it over., & so did the tea.I dont remember the bus but i did go in the Willow Cafe now and again,he was a bit of a b…r as you say, vic.
What was the name of the cafe in Haltwhistle,IIRC Crawfords yard was next door.It was on the l/h side Carlisle bound.
The only one I remember at Haltwhistle was next to Wardles Yard & Tyne Valley tyres on the right hand side before Crawfords, I cant put a name to it though, It closed down when the new bypass opened.
What happened to the old converted bus that stopped near Honda at Swindon? I know it had to move as the B and Q warehouse was built behind the layby and the roads were altered around there.